Buffalo Chicken Burger

Makes 3

Who says ground chicken is dry?  This is moist, messy and stupid good.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/3 cup finely diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely diced green onion
• ¼ cup finely chopped curly parsley
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
• Franks Red Hot
• 1/3 cup panko crumbs
• 2 tablespoons each mayo & sour cream
• ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
• 3 buns – and make good ones like brioche
• Shredded lettuce for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl put chicken, celery, green onion, parsley, salt, pepper, 2 teaspoons Franksand panko – mix well
2. Shape into 3 patties, put on a wax paper or a parchment lined plate and refrigerate at least 30 minutes
3. Meanwhile combine mayo, sour cream & blue cheese – mix really well and set aside
4. Cook burgers any way you like (but a cast iron pan is always a good thought)
5. Once you flip them over, brush the tops with more Franks and cook until done
6. Grill or toast buns
7. Build burgers: bun, sauce, lettuce, burger, bun

WATCH ME MAKE THIS... 

Asian Rice Bowl

Not to sound like a broken record, but this is super easy and super delicious. And very likely different than your everyday stuff... #justsayin

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• Neutral oil, meaning non-flavored like canola, avocado, peanut etc
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 heaping teaspoon of Asian chili garlic sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 2 cups cooked rice

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook ground beef with about ½ tablespoon oil in a large pan until just cooked through - remove excess fat
2. Add ginger, garlic and add a little more oil if needed, stir and cook until very fragrant - about a minute
3. In a small bowl combine brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil and chili garlic sauce - mix well
4. Add the sauce to the beef mixture, stir and let thicken a little
5. Add 1 tablespoon of green onion to the mixture
6. Spoon the beef mixture over rice and garnish with more green onions.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Grilled Steak Sandwich

Is a simple and delicious thing to make - and the addition of pesto makes it even greater.

Makes 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 boneless New York steak, at least 1 inch thick & room temperature
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
• 2 cups baby spinach leaves
• 2 sandwich rolls, sliced in half & buttered
• 2 tablespoons mayo
• 2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat cast iron pan or skillet until smoking hot
2. Lightly rub steak with a little oil and season well on both sides with salt & pepper
3. Cook steak for 3 minutes, flip & continue cooking for 2 minutes (for medium rare), remove from pan and place on a plate to rest
4. In the same pan, add spinach and cook until slightly wilted - about 2 minutes
5. While steak is resting, place buns cut-side down on a flat top or large non-stick pan until lightly toasted
6. Spread mayo and pesto on bottom half of each toasted bun and top with spinach
7. Slice the steak thinly and stack on the spinach - season steak with a little more salt and pepper and top with the other bun.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Green Onion & Ginger Sauce

A classic Chinese oil based sauce - or more accurately a classic ‘Hainanese’ sauce - and it’s a simple and delicious add to almost any protein.

INGREDIENTS

• 2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1 bunch green onions, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 1 cup any neutral oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Put ginger, garlic, onions and salt In a heat resistant bowl combine
2. Heat oil in a saucepan until hot but not boiling, and carefully pour on top of gingher combo (It’ll splatter a lot)
3. When it stops splattering, stir a couple times and then let it cool
4. At this point you can store it in a container in your fridge up to a couple weeks
5. Put on eggs, fish, shrimp, chicken, steak - almost anything

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Pasta with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

FEATURED ON MY TV EPISODE, "NOT SO HEALTHY DAY"

Even if you hate brussels sprouts, I think you’ll like this.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 ounces bacon, sliced widthwise
• 10 whole brussels sprouts, sliced thin
• 6 ounces pasta - your choice but Iike “Casarecce” for this one
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a large frying pan, add bacon - cook until just the edge of crispy, take bacon out and drain on paper towels
2. Leave about 1 ½ tablespoons of grease in the pan discarding the rest and add brussel sprouts -  cook about 6-7 minutes
3. While it cooks, bring large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions
4. Add the bacon back in the brussel sprouts pan - then add garlic until fragrant and mix
5. When the pasta is ready, drain (keeping about a cup of the water) and add pasta to bacon and brussels sprouts mixture with parmesan
6. Stir to combine well and if it's too thick, add pasta water about a 1/4 cup at a time until it's where you like it
7. Season with salt & pepper
8. Add red pepper flakes - top with a little more parmesan and serve

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

FEATURED ON MY TV SHOW 

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Golden Curry

The epitome of Japanese comfort food - and I always have at least a couple packs of these in my house for last minute deliciousness.  Go buy a couple packs today at pretty much any Asian market or online - you’ll be glad you did. Follow the package directions for using uncooked proteins, or follow this version for already cooked:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ½ cups boiling water
• 3.5  package Golden Curry
• 1 cup cooked chopped vegetables (onions, carrots, celery - whatever
• 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken (or use any leftover protein of your choice)

DIRECTIONS

• Add all the curry cubes in the boiling water, stir until mixed well and sauce is smooth
• Turn down heat and add vegetables and chicken - stir until combined and heated through
• Serve over rice

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Lobster Poutine

Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz frozen tater tots 
• ½  tablespoon oil
• ¼ cup red onion, diced small
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tablespoon sake
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup clam juice
• ¼  cup shredded smoked Gruyere cheese
• ¼  cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 small lobster tails, cut into bite size pieces
• ¼ cup chopped green onion to garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook tater tots according to package instructions
2. Heat a saucepan on medium high, add oil and sauté the onions until translucent
3. Add the garlic, cook until fragrant and add 1 tablespoon of butter
4. Add the sake, let the alcohol cook off
5. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, until melted then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour
6. Let the flour taste cook out about 2 minutes
7. Add the milk and clam juice and let thicken
8. Add the gruyere and jack cheese, season with salt and cayenne pepper to taste
9. In a small pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté the lobster until cooked season with a little salt and pepper
10. Top the cooked tater tots with the cheese sauce, then lobster and garnish with green onions

FEATURED IN THIS SAM THE COOKING GUY TV EPISODE 

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Fried Pickles

INGREDIENTS

• Vegetable oil to fry
• ½ cup mayo
• ½ teaspoon chili powder 
• ¼ wedge of a lime
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, beaten 
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 dill pickle spears (slice lengthwise to make 8 thinner spears)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oil to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl combine mayo, chili powder, lime juice and garlic-set aside
3. Put the flour, eggs and seasoned panko with salt and pepper in 3 separate bowls 
4. Dip each pear in the flour (shake off any excess) then in the beaten egg and in the panko, repeat with the remaining pickles
5. Fry a few pickles at a time until golden brown or about 3 minutes-lay on paper towels to drain
6. Finish the fried pickles with a little salt as they come out of the fryer and serve with dipping sauce

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

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Fresh Tomato Sauce

The only way this gets easier is if someone makes it for you.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup diced yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 vine-ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
• ⅓ cup red wine (any wine you enjoy drinking will do)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 10 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade (stacked, roll like a cigar and then thinly sliced lengthwise)
• Kosher salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat and add onion - cook about 5 minutes
2. Add garlic and cook another minute or so - just until fragrant
3. Add tomatoes, turn heat up and let cook a minute or two
4. Next add wine and tomato paste, mix then bring sauce to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer about 10 minutes
5. Add the basil then season with salt and pepper to taste
6. Serve on everything - pasta (of course), toast, eggs, polenta, pizza, grilled bread, chicken... did I say on everything?

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Baked Beans

What’s not to like?

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

• ½ small onion, diced small

• ½  green pepper, diced small

• 1 - 28 ounce can baked beans

• ¼ cup chili sauce (like Heinz, not the spicy version)

• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

• ½ tablespoon Worcestershire

• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoons chipotle peppers, minced

• ⅓ pound bacon, cooked halfway (not crispy)

• Big pinch Kosher salt

• Chopped green onions, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In a large oven proof pot (that has a lid) cook onion, green pepper and bacon until beginning to soften and brown

3. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, cover and bake about 45 minutes to an hour or until bubbly

4. Garnish with green onions

5. Serve hot.

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Caviar Pie

Makes 2 molds that serve 4 - 6 appetizer servings each

My mom used to make this and serve it in a pie dish for company. And since it's not 1969 anymore - my version is a little different...

Ingredients

• 2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and rough chopped with a fork
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced then chopped "confetti" style
• 3 Tbsp cream cheese, softened
• 2 Tbsp sour cream
• Caviar (the inexpensive kind you can find at the grocery store)
• Very thinly sliced baguette or crackers for dipping (try to keep them simple so the flavor of the dish comes out)

Directions

1. Mix the eggs with the mayo and season with freshly ground pepper to taste
2. In a separate bowl mix the cream cheese and sour cream until very smooth
3. Use a mold or a clean empty soup can and spray the inside with Pam (or you could put it onto a plate and layer it free form style)
4. First layer is the egg mixture, then some green onions, top with the sour cream/cream cheese mixture
5. Last add a layer of the caviar on top
6. Unmold carefully onto a platter
7. Top with a sprinkle of green onions and serve with the thinly sliced baguette or your choice of cracker.

Denver Omelet Nachos

Serves 6

Think Denver Omelet, but turned into nachos. Genius? Aw shucks, why'd you have to go and embarrass me by saying that?

1 pasilla or poblano pepper, diced

8 ounces white mushrooms, diced

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 pound Black Forest ham, about 1/4 inch thick - diced

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar, colby-jack, monterey jack - up to you

3 big handfuls homemade tortilla chips, see recipe here (or store bought)

1 or 2 eggs, cooked sunny or over easy - just be sure there’s a runny yolk

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan over medium, and add the pepper, mushrooms & onion - cook until nicely softened, about 5 minutes

• While it cooks, melt butter in a small butter then stir in the flour - cook stirring about a minute

• Preheat oven to 350

• Add milk, and continue cooking a couple minutes, using a whisk then add the shredded cheese and continue whisking until smooth

• Season with salt & pepper - keep warm

• Put a large layer of chips in an oven safe dish, cover with a layer of the cheese sauce, a layer of the ham/veggie combo, then more chips, more cheese sauce, the rest of the ham/veggei and top with remaining 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese

• Place in oven or microwave until the shredded top cheese has melted

• Top with eggs, and away you go

GRILLED STUFFED TERIYAKI BURGER

Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s time to stop eating the same thing all the time. So for something a little different, I suggest trying a stuffed burger. And this one has sautéed onions, Swiss cheese and well, you’ll just have to watch, then make it.

Makes 2 burgers

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon butter
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 slices Swiss cheese
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 4 pineapple rings
• Iceberg lettuce

Directions

1. Cook onions with butter in a non-stick pan until softened, season with salt & pepper and set aside.
2. Flatten beef into 4 patties, and using your hands or burger press, make a pocket in two of them. Put half the onion and one piece of cheese (folded to fit) into the pockets and top with second patty. Season each stuffed burger well with salt & pepper.
3. Preheat grill to medium high and put on the burgers and pineapple slices. Cook until done on one side, then flip them over, and begin brushing both with teriyaki. When both sides of burgers and pineapple are almost done, add more sauce, then toast buns on the grill.
4. Build burger: bun bottom, lettuce, burger, pineapple slices, bun top.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Turkey Chili Enchiladas

Makes 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground turkey, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup chili 
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix first 3 ingredients in bowl, set aside
2. Pour 1/2 the whipping cream in the bottom of a 9x13-baking dish
3. Pour chicken broth in bowl and one by one submerge each tortilla
4. Place approximately 1/8 turkey mixture in the center of each moistened tortilla and roll up
5. Place all 8 side by side in dish seam down in baking dish, sprinkle with Monterey jack cheese and pour remaining whipping cream over top
6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly and gorgeous

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WATCH ME MAKE IT, SEE THE TV EPSIODE

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Doughnutmisu

Serves 6

Think Tiramisu, but with powdered doughnuts – yes, it's that simple. And a pretty bitchin name I might add...

Ingredients

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• 6 small powdered doughnuts, sliced in half
• 6 tablespoons Hersheys chocolate syrup
• 1/4 cup Kahlua
• Cocoa powder

Directions

1. Blend cheese, powdered sugar and whipping cream until smooth
2. Put 1 tablespoon Hersheys in bottom of martini glass
3. Dip cut side of each doughnut in Kahlua
4. On top of chocolate, place 1 doughnut half, then a big tablespoon of cheese mix, then another doughnut half, then more cheese mix then dust with cocoa powder
5. Refrigerate about an hour before eating

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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SIMPLE ALFREDO SAUCE

Serves 4

Get with the program y’all…this will help your food life. Such an easy base for any pasta to add whatever toppings you want, mushrooms, bacon, shrimp, chicken… you name it.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 big garlic clove, crushed

• 16oz carton whipping cream

• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated

• 1 large pinch Kosher salt

• 3-4 grinds fresh ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat butter in large deep skillet to low/medium heat, add garlic cook for one minute

2. Add whipping cream to pan, cook for 20-30 minutes, to thicken and reduce a little

3. add parmesan to sauce, stir and cook for further 3-4 minutes

4. Pour over your favorite pasta

 WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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Fried Bologna Sandwich

RECIPE FEATURED ON MY TV EPISODE "NOT SO HEALTHY DAY"

I wasn't a bologna fan until I fried some. This is crazy delicious and should not be ignored.

Makes one, but a really good one.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½  medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bun or roll of your choice
• butter, softened
• 5 slices of bologna
• ½ tablespoon grainy mustard
• ½ tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 slices American cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat small sauté pan on medium-high with olive oil, add the onions and cook until slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes
2. While they cook, lightly butter the inside of each bun, place cut-side down on a flat top or large non-stick pan untillightly toasted
3. Evenly space three small cuts, about 1/2 inch long into the outside edge of bologna (this will help it from curling up) and place on a heated flat griddle or non-stick pan
4. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until getting golden on the edges
5. Melt 1 slice of cheese on 2 slices of bologna
6. Spread mustard and mayonnaise on bottom half of the toasted bun and top with caramelized onions
7. Then stack all the slices of bologna on the onions, starting with a melted cheese bologna on the bottom, then the other 3 slices and top with the remaining melted cheese bologna
8. Place the top half of the bun on the sandwich

FEATURED RECIPE ON STCG "ONLINE" SHOW

FEATURED RECIPE ON MY TV SHOW

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Double Wrapped Shrimp & Bacon Tacos

Makes about 6

I like the idea of putting everything out in bowls, and letting my guests make their own.  I mean come on – why do I have to do all the work?  

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 3/4 lb peeled, uncooked shrimp cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 lime cut in half, then one half into wedges
• 6 soft corn tortillas
• 3/4 cup refried beans, warmed
• 6 hard taco shells, warmed according to package directions
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• Lettuce, shredded
• 6 slices bacon, cooked, crispy and crumbled
• 3 green onions, finely diced
• Cholula hot sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat pan well then add oil and shrimp - stir-fry quickly as the shrimp will cook fast 
2. When almost done (about 2 minutes) sprinkle shrimp with Old Bay then squeeze juice from the lime half on top 
3. Give them one quick mix and remove to a bowl alongside the tortillas, beans, sour cream and lettuce, bacon and green onions 
4. Now simply let people make their own: put some beans on one side of a soft tortilla, the wrap that around a hard shell tortilla
5. Add some sour cream, some lettuce, the shrimp, some bacon, some green onions and finally a few shakes of hot sauce
6. Eat – as if that wasn’t fricking obvious

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Green Goddess Dressing

It’s 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather accepts the Best Actor Award for Marlon Brando in The Godfather, All in the Family was huge on TV and Green Goddess Dressing was all the rage – and still should be.  

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley 
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, coarsley chopped
• 2 green onions, white & light green parts coarsely chopped
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 3/4 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1.  Put all ingredients in a processor and blend until smooth 

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Pork Chow Mein

Get ready for the Chinese New Year with these great noodles - and the quick little black bean sauce makes this ridiculous.

Serves 2-4

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons black bean garlic sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• ½ pound boneless pork (tenderloin or country style ribs work great), thinly sliced 
• ½ tablespoon of neutral oil*
• *(unflavored oils such as canola, vegetable or peanut)
• ¼ pound sugar snap peas sliced diagonally
• ½ pound shitake mushrooms
• 4 oz chow mein noodles, cooked
• green onions, chopped to garnish

 DIRECTIONS

1. Combine black bean and soy sauce, set aside
2. Heat sautéed pan on medium-high, add oil and pork and cook cooked until pork is just done, about 4 minutes ­ - remove pork mixture to a bowl
3. In same pan, heat to high and add a little more oil
4. Add peas and stir fry until crisp tender, about 3 minutes then add to pork mixture
5. Return pan to heat again, add more oil and the shitakes, cook until softened, about 5 minutes
6. Turn heat up to high, add the pork mixture and then the add soy/black bean - stir until heated through
7. Add chow mein noodles, combine well, plate and garnish with green onions
8. Serve

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